@chocodonut

just be sure that you want to end up in segi k. you cant run to elsewhere after the foundation

@baoz

no prob. you're welcome. we are here trying to help others to make the best decision.

Hi everyone!

Just wondering, for Pharmacy is it better to study at AIMST or UCSI? I've already applied to UCSI but am now considering AIMST as well coz (surprise surprise) AIMST fees for Pharmacy is cheaper. But I've also heard that places are limited for AIMST Pharm course, etc. Is it wise to still apply?

Fyi I sat for STPM and my result is 3A for P.Am, Bio, Chem, 2B+ for Maths T and Physics. Hope that I'm not being too obnoxious or anything... at this time of the year still no place to study, and UPU didnt get oso the course I wanted (I applied for Pharmacy cz thought could get with my 3.84 pointer, hishhhh) ... so am very worried right now =]

Also, regarding a pre-reg in UK issue discussed earlier in the thread.. is it possible for Malaysian grads and pharmacists to be allowed to be a pre-reg pharmacist there as well? I mean, after the 4 years total bond to the government it should be enough experience (min 3 yrs working experience right?) to try for pre-reg. Or do Malaysians generally have 'less chance', to be frank?

less chance? yes, any pharmacist outside of EU stand lesser chance to work as pharmacist in UK.

if you have 3 years working experience in your home country or country that recognise your degree, you can apply for a pre-reg position in UK. BUT, as usual, strict conditions applies to employing overseas worker, also the limited places for pre-reg every year.

plus, pharmacist profession is going to be removed from the shortage occupation list soon. so overseas pharmacist stand lesser and lesser chance.

@goodfella_rocka

erm.. just be aware that aimst is only going to offer you in september. so, my advice is, if you get ucsi, dont bother apply for aimst and waste another rm 100. yes, fees might be cheaper but what if they didnt offer you during september?

you have no where to go at that time unless you can afford those twinning with uk as their intake is december.

however, it is unlikely aimst is not going to offer you though. many students will pick those july intake so aimst would offer just anyone to fill up their quota.

if money if your main concern and you dont mind taking the risk waiting for another year just in case aimst didnt offer you a place, then go ahead.

p/s:your result is good enough to apply just any pharmacy prog out there even those direct entry to overseas.

@youngkies - Yeah, those were my thoughts exactly! Tsk tsk jealous of all the EU students. ASEAN should practise the EU's policies, where EU citizens get special rates at member countries' unis, higher priority in jobs etc., ASEAN's most visible effort even is just the ASEAN scholarship, where all the smart students rebut for place. It's time for ASEAN countries to move in the EU direction, unite in economic and politico-cultural front. Sorry for the unrelated rant.

@jerk - The thing is UCSI still didn't get back to me about my application, even after the test and interview... and school starts this Thursday summore! Maybe I didn't pass the test as my chemistry knowledge was ady karat then.. Direct entry into foreign pharmacy schools? I only know that for UK must go through UCAS, Germany have to go through uni-assist, other than that I have no idea... but money is big prob... if I have the money I will fly to UK and study in London School of Pharmacy. The end. But do you have any suggestions as to any 'affordable', direct-entry pharm schools in EU that offer substantial financial aid as well? Really counting on that hehe... maybe I missed some while doing my homework. But leh IELTS requirement is really ma fan, dah lah so expensive and really seem bleh since I ady got *cough* Band 6 for MUET

@goodfella_rocka

it is weird that ucsi didnt get back to you. after all, you have the result and they want your money.

just give them a call, no time to waste because the intake is just days away. normally if you fail the test, they would call you for another attempt.

even the cheapest direct entry out there would surely cost more than UCSI. and just like youngkies put it, studying oversea on a tight budget is not a fun thing to do and working while studying is not easy either.

i think the best way is to hunt for a postgraduate scholarship next time. i am not a bright student and thus, i am not that aware of scholarships.

some will accept your MUET as i get only band 5 and they accepted me without me taking ielts. some even look at the 1119 paper during spm.

if ucsi didnt offer you, it is still not too late to apply aimst.

@jerk - Yup, I'm fully aware of that... Have been looking up down left right for affordable alternatives overseas but seriously no luck. Have to make do with Malaysia then. Even if I get accepted I can't afford it anyways. Though Germany is an attractive option, considering their degree programs only cost RM2500 - RM3000 per sem, but most courses especially critical ones like medic and pharmacy requires intermediate level command of German, plus need to sit for TestAS or whatever it's called (but there are some that don't need you to know German and lots of courses nowadays conducted fully in English, which is a good thing). Anyone who wants to know these stuff just ask me... considered expert at this ady lol. About postgrad for pharmacy, seems a bit bleh isn't it since if you study for MPharm courses in UK it's practically like repeating your Bachelor degree program. If wanna do postgrad with scholarships better to go into courses with high research potential like Biochem, Biomedic, Biology, Chemistry or Physics or Computer Science, right? Unfortunately the only sane places to do these courses are with public uni, and UPU didn't even offer me any of those. Grrr.

@goodfella_rocka

hmm.. they offered me microbiology at ukm i think and i didnt even have 3.5 but of course i did put that as 1 of my choices. i just dont want them to "lelong" me.

just give ucsi a call. with ptptn, it is still quite affordable i would say

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Added on June 30, 2009, 2:30 amdid you try NUS?

This post has been edited by jerk: Jun 30 2009, 02:30 AM

i still thinking wan apply ucsi or not...i still in dilemma.. if i go ucsi i need to loan from bank because 80k is not enough... I look through masterskill is about 83k only but is a new program.. I no need to ask my parent to go bank loan for me if i study masterskill..But ucsi is better.. how?

This post has been edited by el8155: Jun 30 2009, 02:48 AM

@el8155

decision is yours. ict at penang also a not bad alternative because of the usm degree.

cost of living at cheras area ucsi could be quite high, around rm800 including rent etc.

anyway, ucsi pharmacy orientation is days away, you better make up your mind soon. you will have a hard time catching up once they started teaching

i just asked about ict... only 22 applicant somemore many ppl not going.. many malay

Good question! Lol. The truth is I didn't, coz I didn't think with such 'lousy' grades (i.e. with B+ grades) I must possess some kind of dumb luck to be accepted into NUS Pharmacy course. Anyhow, a bit freaked at having to serve Singapore government for 5 years in exchange for their sponsorship as now the economic condition there isn't too good, right? And ASEAN scholarship lagi la hard to get. That's why I didn't try. I hate it when people keep asking me, 'Why didn't you try Singapore??' Singapore is a country, not food...

u applied for ucsi too? so where u planning to go?

@el8155 - Ya I applied... but they haven't got back to me about whether I got accepted or not.. Gotta call them tomorrow man... class starts on Thursday! Haihz... if UCSI tak jadi then have to mati2 go into AIMST lo... if that wan oso tak dapat, I just go back to my job right now and wait for next year's round of intakes...

Or wait... maybe Masterskill lo.... But dunno how good it is. Is the program only in its first year?

if this year go in masterskill, will be second batch..is quite new lo for masterskill.. why wont get ucsi? ur result for stpm is quite good..

This post has been edited by el8155: Jun 30 2009, 03:55 AM

@el8155 - In a way, it would be quite fun to be in a relatively new program huh? Get to share 'glory' stories with future students, just like what the AIMST seniors are doing now, haha. But Masterskill I heard the administration not so good... haiyo dunno la, every uni oso lidat wan mah... About UCSI - who knows tak dapat... haih...

What about you? What's your predicament?

This post has been edited by goodfella_rocka: Jun 30 2009, 04:00 AM

@el8155

i just chat with my friend who is in charge or the ucsi pharmacy orientation. it seems only 35 people on the confirm list.

should be plenty of vacant place still. as long as you have the grades and money, you should be able to get in.

@goodfella_rocka

bonded 5 years in exchange for good education is not a bad choice. i wouldnt say it is a better country but at least they try and keep the talent there.

Yup I agree.... but it's just too much of a risk.. there's the huge question of whether can get into NUS/NTU for Pharmacy or not. The other science subjects that are plausible such as Chemistry, Biology, Biochem etc. are more research-related. So if you want to continue to Masters, you can't coz you're legally bound to serve to Singaporean government? Or have to defer it till you finish your term? And I heard you gotta find your own job... the Singaporeans ain't gonna find for you (which is NOT such a bad thing actually). Where are you studying now anyway, jerk?

i maybe going to apply for ucsi,why u said masterskill administration is not so good, masterskill with collabration la trobe australia, is not in the pharmacy of board so abit worry.. Aimst i heard my frn said quite hard to get.. far for me.. ha.. haih haih too

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Added on June 30, 2009, 4:07 amya i gonna ask my parent if they agree i will apply soon.. thanks ya

This post has been edited by el8155: Jun 30 2009, 04:07 AM

@el8155 - Not to say administration no good... I heard like they've got some kind of internal conflict there... students also don't really like the way they run the college, something like that. Haven't heard of La Trobe before heheh Ooo if we both go UCSI hehe we can meet up o... ^^ Discuss with your parents kaw kaw...